I wonder if someone like Apex or Centerfire would be willing to give you a big break on cost for both quantity, as well as for the good of the community/more exposure of their name as a "sponsor" maybe?

I doubt it, but time will tell.
I've been looking at smartbombs cad drawings and some other options. I even eyeballed the AK47 (Freedom Fighter) rifle from Black Rain Ordnance for ideas.

thats why I was thinking you could make the front trunion an RSB in one piece . RSBs are like $30 now . you could also make it take a gude rod an not need a piston like deal on the bolt .

you only need a AK gas tube if you wan it to duplicate a AK exactly . A 50 cent piece of tubing could replace a $20 original . No need for a $20 trigger guard thats not going to fit 9mm mags any way you just need a 30 cent piece of flat bar .

Id stick wiht the AK FCG an pins as there cheap . To bad you an I didn tstock up onthem whn CFS had trigger sets for like $3 .

the rear dust cover is going to cost you if you want a original look . I see the chinease ones with the rail on top pretty cheap on ebay . try to get a bulk price maybe . the rear trunion is going to cost you . one solutin is somehting lile jack squat sells . Im not sure how well they woul be reciveed on a manuafactred fore arm but for $10 an some welding you have a pistol trunion . If you can cnc front barrel blocks/ trunions an bolts a rear trunion should be easy .

as far as furniture there is not a lot super cheap . You can get AR stocks pretty cheap how ever .

Receiver blanks can be made for about $4

I think if you stray just a bit from the original AK look you can build the a lot cheaper . Im not sure how they would sell.

I have nver flet the need or want for a GB an gas tube on a blow back . Id be cool with a gue rod an nothing on top of the barrel . if its a short barrel pistol you dont really need a upper fore grip just small lower one if that . just a lip on hte bottom of the trunon would work to keep you hand from going forward .

I think a shorty pistol would sell more than a 6" or longer barrels one .

But your right if you use all original parts your only going to be saving on the cost of a trunion, bolt an carrier an you still have to make the parts to replace them so you looking at about 400 just in parts.

My thoughts have always bee use a $5 receiver flat a cheap $10 original FCG what ever springs you need an build the rest from scratch.

thats why I was thinking you could make the front trunion an RSB in one piece . RSBs are like $30 now . you could also make it take a gude rod an not need a piston like deal on the bolt .

you only need a AK gas tube if you wan it to duplicate a AK exactly . A 50 cent piece of tubing could replace a $20 original . No need for a $20 trigger guard thats not going to fit 9mm mags any way you just need a 30 cent piece of flat bar .

Id stick wiht the AK FCG an pins as there cheap . To bad you an I didn tstock up onthem whn CFS had trigger sets for like $3 .

the rear dust cover is going to cost you if you want a original look . I see the chinease ones with the rail on top pretty cheap on ebay . try to get a bulk price maybe . the rear trunion is going to cost you . one solutin is somehting lile jack squat sells . Im not sure how well they woul be reciveed on a manuafactred fore arm but for $10 an some welding you have a pistol trunion . If you can cnc front barrel blocks/ trunions an bolts a rear trunion should be easy .

as far as furniture there is not a lot super cheap . You can get AR stocks pretty cheap how ever .

Receiver blanks can be made for about $4

I think if you stray just a bit from the original AK look you can build the a lot cheaper . Im not sure how they would sell.

I have nver flet the need or want for a GB an gas tube on a blow back . Id be cool with a gue rod an nothing on top of the barrel . if its a short barrel pistol you dont really need a upper fore grip just small lower one if that . just a lip on hte bottom of the trunon would work to keep you hand from going forward .

I think a shorty pistol would sell more than a 6" or longer barrels one .

But your right if you use all original parts your only going to be saving on the cost of a trunion, bolt an carrier an you still have to make the parts to replace them so you looking at about 400 just in parts.

My thoughts have always bee use a $5 receiver flat a cheap $10 original FCG what ever springs you need an build the rest from scratch.

I'm looking at all kinds of options, but so far nothing has caught my eye.
I even looked at rectangular tubing for a handguard-dust cover combo, but it really needs to be a hexagonal shape at the top to look correct.

Yea a dust cover could be made easy from sheet metal but its not going to look great . although a flat top cover would give it sort of a UZI look . there is also some alumium 1 1/4" channel I have seen avaliabe . ( I think )

some of the vipers an valimits use a non traditional cover I think .

Add a tri rail on it an zombie shooters will jump all over it LOL

looking at a amd 65 hand guard I think a jig coild be made to mimic some thing simular pretty easy .

you could give it sort of a taticla look an use a round hand guard like a AR an slot the gas tune area . alumunim tubing is cheap knurl or flute it an it would look cool .

use a round ring for were the GB would be to cap the hand guard an hold the gas tube .

I think the fact its not a gas gun gives you some artistic liscence here to not have to copy a AK directly .

I was considering getting couple but im broke if nothing else I could cut them up for other projets

looking at your picture I have seen some of those tri rails for some AR set up I think it was a carry handle upper set up that would all most repace the entire cover with the rail alone on a AK. they were a bit short . I have one Ill set it on top of a receiver an take you a picture . you can make the bolt under any cover you wish .

I was considering getting couple but im broke if nothing else I could cut them up for other projets

looking at your picture I have seen some of those tri rails for some AR set up I think it was a carry handle upper set up that would all most repace the entire cover with the rail alone on a AK. they were a bit short . I have one Ill set it on top of a receiver an take you a picture . you can make the bolt under any cover you wish .

Yea a dust cover could be made easy from sheet metal but its not going to look great . although a flat top cover would give it sort of a UZI look . there is also some alumium 1 1/4" channel I have seen avaliabe . ( I think )

some of the vipers an valimits use a non traditional cover I think .

Add a tri rail on it an zombie shooters will jump all over it LOL

looking at a amd 65 hand guard I think a jig coild be made to mimic some thing simular pretty easy .

you could give it sort of a taticla look an use a round hand guard like a AR an slot the gas tune area . alumunim tubing is cheap knurl or flute it an it would look cool .

use a round ring for were the GB would be to cap the hand guard an hold the gas tube .

I think the fact its not a gas gun gives you some artistic liscence here to not have to copy a AK directly .

If all else fails just make an sell the bolts an trunions alone.

I have been considering just that for several years .

I've thought about just making a bolt and trunnion combo to sell and that idea is looking more appealing all the time.
I'll get with my partner Monday night and talk about it. I think it might be the best option for me.